An original online event showcasing & supporting new work and talent emerging from game design programs

The Future of Game Design

Horizons connects diverse and highly qualified students with one another, industry representatives, and to a worldwide community. These future industry leaders are the pipeline to change, diversity, and to the future for the industry. Through our first-of-its-kind conference and showcase, Horizons amplifies new student work and emerging talent from games programs to industry, one another, and the broader public.

Horizons 2023 builds upon the tremendous successes of its pilot programs, expanding opportunities for institutions to represent their programs and for students and faculty to connect from across the world, exploring the most important current topics, interacting with leading industry, building a robust community network, and celebrating top student and faculty work. 

Want to participate? 

IndieCade Horizons 2023 Events

  • Conference: February 17th
  • Hidden Heroes Game Jam: February 24th – March 5th
  • Playtesting: April
  • Showcase & Faculty Awards: June 3rd

Playtesting – April

Cross-institution and peer-to-peer playtesting and feedback hosted on the IndieCade Discord server.

More details and signups coming soon!

Faculty of Excellence Awards – Nominations Open!

Horizons is designed to support, highlight, and enhance the work done across games education––for students, professors, researchers, educators, and administrators. Educators and schools are the foundation that supports student growth and flourishing.

Horizons wants to recognize this crucial role and highlight the importance of educators in the games ecosystem through the Faculty of Excellence Awards, recognizing excellence in teaching, service, and innovation.

Nominations are now open. The awardees will be announced as part of our June 3rd Showcase!

Horizons Showcase – June 3rd

The grand finale of Horizons 2023. A live streaming event highlighting games from our participating schools and recognizing this year’s Faculty of Excellence.

Conference – February 17th

A full day conference with Keynotes, Panels, and AMA sessions on everything from portfolios, community building, studio culture, going solo, fundraising, preparing for a career in the industry, internships, and more.

If your school was not a Horizons partner, individual tickets were available for students and faculty. Tickets were also available for industry members.

Hidden Heroes Game Jam

Feb 24th – March 5th

Sponsored by AARP Games

Share the never-before-told stories of older family members, mentors, or close friends – people whose wisdom have meaningfully impacted our lives.

A focused game jam, with opportunities to build cross-institutional teams and the choice to select a long or short version of the event.

Resources were provided to integrate the jam as a project, extra credit, or assignment as well as category prizes such as individual portfolio review and mentorships.

Prizes for Horizons Students included mentoring and individual portfolio reviews.

2023 PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

Premium

American University Game Center
Bradley University, Department of Interactive Media
Clark University, Becker School of Design and Technology
Falmouth University Games Academy
Miami University
Michigan State University
Northeastern University
NYU Game Center
Purdue University
University of Miami Department of Interactive Media
USC Games

Plus

Abertay University
ArtCenter College of Design
DePaul University Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
Kent State University at Tuscarawas
University of Tulsa
University of Utah, Entertainment Arts & Engineering

Partner

Columbus College of Art & Design, Game Art & Design
Indiana University Bloomington
Michigan Technological University
Santa Monica College
Sheridan College
Western University

Basic 

Ball State Computer Science: Game Design & Development
School of Interactive Games and Media at RIT

Horizons is possible in part from support from the Knight Foundation


Horizons is a partnership of HEVGA and IndieCade

The Higher Education Video Game Alliance is the leading academic association advocating for the critical role video game programs play in higher education, industry, and government. Our mission is to create a platform for higher education leaders which will underscore the cultural, scientific, and economic importance of video game programs in colleges and universities.

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Are you an IndieCade Alumnus? We want to know! If you've been a speaker, organizer, juror, or presented your game at IndieCade or any IndieCade-related showcase (ex. IndieCade @ E3, IndieCade @ SIGGRAPH, etc. - doesn't need to have been a finalist) we'd like to be in touch.

https://www.indiecade.com/alumni-signup/